Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Jazz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Jazz’ particularly characterized by flowers which are red/purple with a white mark in the center; labellum is red/purple with white and some yellow; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Jazz’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Jazz’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Jazz’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Jazz’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2000 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Taisuco Firebird’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Strawberry’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Jazz’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2008 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in July, 2008 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Jazz’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are red/purple with a white mark in the center;         labellum is red/purple with white and some yellow;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescence is long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Jazz’, the female parent ‘Taisuco Firebird’ has dark pink colored flowers with a red/purple labellum and are about 11 cm in size. The male parent ‘Strawberry’ has pink colored flowers and are about 12 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Jazz’ are red/purple with white mark in the center and a red/purple labellum. ‘Jazz’ is about 11 cm in size.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Jazz’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Easter Egg’ (Patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,448). The flowers of ‘Jazz’ are darker in color than the flowers of ‘Easter Egg’. They both have white in the center, only ‘Easter Egg’ has more white than ‘Jazz’. The shape of the labellum differs and ‘Jazz’ has more and darker purple in the labellum than ‘Easter Egg’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Jazz’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Jazz’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Jazz’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Jazz’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Jazz’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Jazz’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Jazz’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Jazz’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Jazz’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Jazz’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Jazz’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Jazz’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Taisuco Firebird’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Strawberry’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and grey/green in color (RHS 190B); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 65 cm. Spread: about 55 mm.         -   Growth habit.—Normal; dark green leaves (RHS N137C) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 5 to 7 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval and narrow; the tips are             asymmetric, some are blunt, some are pointy.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 15 to 29 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 6 to 9 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—Green (RHS N137C).         -   Mature leaf color (under surface).—Green (RHS 146A).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper             surface: green (RHS N137B). under surface: green (RHS 146A). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Raceme.—Quantity per plant: about 1 to 2. Number of flowers             per raceme: about 10 to 18. Length: about 50 to 70 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Diameter: about 4 to 7 mm. Strength: strong.             Aspect: upright. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: brown             (RHS N200A) with green spots (RHS 141C).         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 23 mm to 30 mm.             Diameter (at midpoint): about 17 mm to 24 mm. Shape:             oval/egg-shaped. Color: Main color is red/purple (RHS 72A)             at the base some green/yellow (RHS 145B) and violet stripes             (RHS 86A).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-2             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom):             Height: about 55 mm to 80 mm. Diameter: about 70 mm to             110 mm. Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three             sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2             whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals. Petals:             Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral             petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape:             broadly ovate and weakly cupped. Apex: oval with a little             notch. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly             ovate. Length: about 40 mm to 52 mm. Width: about 30 mm to             40 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under             surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper             surface: red/purple (RHS 72B). The veins are purple/violet             (RHS N80A). A small purple edge on the outside (RHS 76D), at             the base white (RHS NN155C). Under surface: purple (RHS             N78C). The veins are red/purple (RHS N74A). At the base some             white (RHS NN155C). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2             prominent callosities at central junction of the lateral             lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum             fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends forward             and is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the apex.             Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the             midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Apex: oval. Length: about 25 mm.             Width (not flattened): about 26 mm. Depth of tube created by             lateral lobes of labellum: about 17 mm. Texture: Upper &             under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):             Midlobe: upper surface: red/purple (RHS N78A). At the base             in the corners some grey/red (RHS 182C) and at the base in             the center a little yellow (RHS 8C). Under surface: purple             (RHS N78A). In the center purple (RHS 75A). At the base in             the corners a little grey/red (RHS 182C). Lateral lobes:             upper surface: red/purple (RHS 72B). At the base white (RHS             NN155C) with purple stripes in it (RHS N77C). At the upper             edge also some white (RHS NN155C). Under surface: red/purple             (RHS 72B). From base till half way on the upper side a wide             white edge (RHS NN155C). On the lower edge some grey/purple             (RHS 183C). Cirrhi: about 20 mm (long and little curly).             Color: red/purple (RHS 72A). Pestle (Callosities): Length:             about 5 mm. Width (not flattened): about 7 mm. Color: yellow             (RHS 13A) with red/purple spots (RHS 60A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl of petals comprises 3             sepals, one dorsal and two lateral sepals. Overall shape:             oval and weakly cupped. Length: about 33 to 44 mm. Width:             about 24 to 34 mm. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Apex:             oval, lateral more pointed than dorsal. Texture: Upper &             under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):             Dorsal sepal: upper side: purple (RHS N78A), the veins are             red/purple (RHS N81A). At the base white and some white             spots all over (RHS NN155C). Also a small edge around the             dorsal sepal is white (RHS NN155C). In center at the base             some purple/violet (RHS N80D). under side: purple (RHS             N78C). the veins are red/purple (RHS N84A). A thin white             edge all the way around and some white spots all over (RHS             NN155B). Lateral sepals: upper side: purple (RHS N78A). The             veins are red/purple (RHS N81A). At the base white spots             (RHS NN155C), below green/white (RHS 157A) with red/purple             spots (RHS N81A). Under side: purple (RHS N78C). The veins             are red/purple (RHS N81A). A thin white edge all around and             some white spots all over (RHS NN155B).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 20 to 40 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm.             Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: at the flower             green/white (RHs 157C), then yellow/green (RHS 145B) and             then yellow/green (RHS 145A) with a haze of purple/red (RHS             72B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 10 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:             purple (RHS N78B) and RHS N78A with some white (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Size: about 1 mm. Color: orange             (RHS N25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 2 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155C). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Jazz’, as illustrated and described herein. 